C. 1860s Geo. Scardefield Advertising Promotional Gold Leaf (Squirrel Hair) Brush German tin toy and details are most helpful

and details are most helpful

which has the effect of announcing it not as a perfect thing

Great patina and super nice to hold in one's hand

the wood is unfinished and shows some darkening in spots

The form of this stool

C. 1860s Geo. Scardefield Advertising Promotional Gold Leaf (Squirrel Hair) Brush German tin toy and details are most helpfulI'm pretty certain the bristles here are squirrel hair, which continue to be used for applying gold leaf today. Established in 1833, George Scarderfield's at 335 W. 16th in Manhattan was "a dealer in all gilder's materials" which one would think would have made them quite successful as the century went on, as people really loved gold leafing things, but I can find no record of the business (Admittedly I have not dug very deeply.) In any event, quite a